Climate change can’t be stabilized without addressing urban sprawl

Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of U.S. carbon emissions, making it the largest source of U.S. carbon emissions.

This sector surpassed power generation in 2017 as the top emitter. Urban sprawl, and the transportation challenges it presents, is one of the reasons for this development. Some argue that climate change can’t be mitigated without addressing this issue—even if power generation goes completely green.

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently addressed this issue and raised some solutions. Among them was the need to view infrastructure and climate change as linked issues, not separate ones.

Though no consensus emerged from the deliberations, one view was that low-carbon and storm-resilient transportation systems including public transit should be priorities. Also, climate resiliency should include natural solutions such as restored wetlands.